Not Babies {photos}

Are you in a season change in your life? I don't mean literally, but figuratively. New little ones arriving. Kids getting older. Kids leaving for college. I feel like we're in the midst of a change. No newborns or infants and finally nearing a time when I can leave the house with them without risking a tantrum in public. That coveted "diaper free" life on the horizon, potty learning... Then that thought of "we may not be done". Are we done? With kids? Everyone asks. Especially when you have one of each already! Like it's some sort of magic combination. 

I look at them and simultaneously think "We could be done and I want another one". I've always been indecisive, but when it comes to having children, even more so. Most moments I just try not to think about the future but live in the present because my babies aren't babies any more. Sad and happy at that thought all at the same time. They are still my babies. They are big to me when I look at newborns, they are little to me when I look at teenagers. They become so, so precious in moments when I hear of parents loosing their babies.

In the throes of homeschooling and life-learning, I'm surrounded by other moms on a similar journey that truly appreciate how short of a time we have with our children. Some have little families, some have big ones. Some are religious, some aren't. Some stay home, some work part time, some work full time while managing to homeschool. All of them from a great variety of backgrounds and cultures. We all have one thing in common though - cherishing the time we have with our 'babies'. We're not perfect, but we really enjoy simply being present for our families. Because babies don't keep and life is short. 

I don't want to paint a rosy picture. It's a great challenge and I'm not sure who is learning more, me or my children. I'm learning how to run a growing Boston area wedding photography business (new website and name by the way!). I have so much respect and solidarity for all business owning moms out there! I had no idea what I was getting myself into. My head is spinning with all the legal, bookkeeping, and financial stuff that goes into starting a business - hours upon hours of work that you do not get compensated for but have to pay for somehow. Then throw in a good measure of mommy guilt for the time I spend building the business while they nap, while they put on plays, play make believe, build with Legos, and just plain run around and drive each other nuts. I have to say though, this is also good for them, I can see how their free play time has shaped them into the little no-so-babies they are. 

Are you in a similar season or someplace else? Babies growing? Jobs changing? Homeschooling? New arrivals?

How do you "live in the moment" through the routine of daily life?

Being a Small Business Owner and Homeschooling Mom: Dream vs. Reality

The title sums up my life right now. It's idyllic. Well, that's what I thought some five years ago when I was dreaming of staying home with the kids, homeschooling, and owning my own photography business. Mission accomplished! We're here! Living the dream! 

Ha! Of course there is a caveat. Many of them. Clearly things cannot be perfect, this is life. I do not regret for a moment being here, but I am just now starting to get a glimpse of what I've gotten myself into, in a good way. 

You know how we often dream up the ideal scenario and then adjust our expectations when we actually get there? That's how parenting is after all. That's how business ownership is. That's how homeschooling is. I've got all three. Did I mention my husband is working three weeks away from home every month right now? Yep, I'm on my own, but somehow enjoying it. Here is our "Dream" and "Reality" scenario for a day of living and learning. 

DREAM

Morning: I work on editing photos while the kids sleep soundly.

They wake up mid-morning and we have a leisurely breakfast, maybe even their favorite - pancakes I make from scratch.  

We sit outside in the sun and read with my 5 year old while my toddler plays with toys and a ball. Baby E is not at all frustrated with learning to read. Then we read a slew of fun learning books we got from the library about castles, farming, world geography, and geometry. My almost 3 year old is into it too. We color some coloring books.

We go meet up with some local homeschoolers at a playground for a couple of hours. Have a light picnic.

We arrive home just in time to have lunch and put Baby T down for a nap. 

While I work, Baby E does some coloring, drawing, and crafts - unassisted and never calls my name. I've booked one more wedding for 2015 and I feel like I've accomplished a ton of work!

Baby T wakes up around 4 and I have dinner from scratch on the table in half an hour. This leaves us enough time for some biking outside.

My mom arrives and takes the kids to a park so I can go to a meeting with a potential client/couple. 

I come back home and the kids aren't back yet. I make, vaccuum pack, and freeze a few more meals for my husband's next trip. I clean the whole kitchen. 

Kids arrive, we have a pre-bed snack (yogurt or toasted sprouted bread with raw cheddar), say goodbye to grandma, brush teeth, and read five books without kids whining. Lights out. They fall asleep in 5 minutes. So do I. Daddy/hubby is coming back tomorrow!

REALITY

I'm too exhausted from the day before to wake up with my alarm to edit photos, I beat myself up over it when I wake up an hour before the kids do, instead of 3 hours. 

Ten minutes later Baby T wakes up, I try to shush him back to sleep. He falls asleep but Baby E is up and ready to learn. 

I set her up with her favorite math and phonics games on a computer next to mine in the office. 

I make a last dash attempt to at least answer any urgent bride emails (I photograph weddings!)

Baby E whines she is hungry, I bring her a dried pea snack. 

Baby T wakes up crying, wants to sleep but it's too late to do that. I distract him in their playroom/bedroom. 

I beg Baby E to play with her little brother while I finish typing an urgent email reply. 

For a quick breakfast I boil eggs, they whine but say they'll eat them with the organic ketchup. ;)

We're late for a homeschool meet-up at the park. Thankfully we're not the only ones. 

We have too much fun there and end up staying later than planned, which means Baby T is absolutely cranky and his diaper is dirty. I remember how terrible it is that he isn't potty trained yet and that I am (gasp!) using an Eco disposable for outings instead of cloth diapers. He refuses to nap and my whole mid-day work-time is out the window. 

He needs to chill, so I set them up with water-coloring while I heat up leftovers for a late lunch.

I leave them to paint for a quick 10 minutes while I check email. No new weddings booked today and I realize how darn competitive the Boston wedding photography market is, not to mention marketing here is expensive, so I'm stuck with the slow and steady growth of word-of-mouth.  

Come back to burnt left-overs and watercolors on the table. What was I thinking?!

We eat what's left of leftovers, they beg for dessert, I smother some butter on challah and call it "dessert".

I realize it's after 5 and we haven't read with Baby E today, we sit down to read in the kitchen because it's raining outside. After page two of her little reader book she says she is done. I make her read one more page. 

They ask to build an "airplane", so we do...

I turn on some audio books for the kids to listen to while I attempt to clean the kitchen and send a wedding photography quote to another couple.

I extinguish a sibling squabble, they hug and make up. I marvel at how lucky they are to have each other and remember that Baby T needs a younger sibling pronto - he is selfish (aren't we all?).
We play a math game, learn some notes on the piano, kids are hungry and have their pre-bed snack.
After much arguing I get them to brush their teeth. They fight over and rip a library book while I go shut down the computer in the office.
Mommy is angry. Mommy tells Baby E that her savings will go toward paying for that library book. Baby E cries profusely. Mommy feels terrible, but she did pull the book from her brother and she knows we don't do that. I read them one short story and turn off the lights because I can't take her sobbing anymore, we just all need to sleep. Tomorrow is a new day!

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It's definitely a challenge and a huge responsibility to have this much FREEDOM in both work and education. 

The good news is that most days are somewhere between Dream and Reality. It's never really idyllic and it's never really a disaster. Which makes it actually quite enjoyable and something I feel I can survive! We don't have a typical day. We could be at the zoo. We could be visiting with a friend. We could be at the library for 2 hours because they can't get enough of all the incredible books there. I have weeks where I have several photo sessions and weeks where I have none. I have moments where I'm frazzled and moments of peace. I guess you could call it balance, though I'm scared of using that word as I've written before. 

I am just thankful to be here, in a place that works for our family. In a place where learning revolves around our life. I salute all those that have to daily deal with life revolving around strict school and work schedules. Staying positive helps get through any hardship no matter what your living/learning situation!

Homeschooling/Unschooling mamas, what's are your days like? Do you have a rhythm to your day or a strict schedule?

Baby E's New Milestone!

I thought this day would never come! You know how sometimes your kids can't do something for what seems the longest time, and then they surprise you and finally "get it"? Love those moments, they are like precious pearls from deep down in the sea. So guess what? Baby E is finally riding her big girl bike without training wheels!

I thought it would take us months. She just seemed so scared by the entire concept. 

Here is the back story. She has been riding her wooden balance bike since she was two (here is our review from eons ago). She was still riding it comfortably with the seat all the way up when she was 5. At that point we decided we should get her a 16" 'big girl bike' and we found a great one on Craigslist for a steal of $40 - it's almost identical to this one. It doesn't have the bells and whistles, but it had training wheels that we thought we needed. 

So last fall she tried the big bike and it just seemed too BIG. She barely reached the ground with her toes, though the pedals were placed just right for her height. With training wheels this bike seemed really cumbersome and not very easily maneuverable. So she kept riding her balance bike as it is so light and easy for her to handle. Spring rolled around and I was afraid she would just keep riding her wooden bike even though it's time to pass it on to Baby T. 

A few weeks ago she said she wanted to learn to ride the big bike. So I hauled it outside for her on several occasions to let her ride with training wheels. She hated it! The loud rattling of the training wheels made her nervous. So I promised her we would buy knee and elbow pads so she could try it out without the training wheels, so we essentially skipped them altogether. 

I first got her this set of knee and elbow pads, which turned out to be great quality but huge and better suited for teenagers who are into BMX (duh, the name should have rang a bell). Then I ordered this set and it turned out to be perfect for her. It will later be passed on to her brother along with her helmet. 

The day finally arrived! She was all decked out in her helmet and pads, ready to ride. With Baby T in the stroller, we set out down our street. She kept walking the bike down the street, afraid to get her feet on the pedals. I had to set Baby T on the lawn, buckled into his stroller so he doesn't run away while I alleviated Baby E's fears by running down the street and holding the bike in the back. This gave her a confidence boost and some security and she finally got the feet on the pedals. She insisted that I do not let go!

After three brief runs up and down the street I asked "Do you want to try it yourself?" She said no. I said that I can't keep running, I'm exhausted, and her brother can't sit there and watch all day. So I got the stroller and we started walking toward our playground. She was walking the bike. I kept nagging for her to put the feet on the pedals. She said she is scared. So I remembered a song she loves from a Russian Christian Kids CD that she loves to listen to, the chorus is along the lines of "you can do anything if you simply believe". So we started singing it with her. I stopped nagging and giving her pointers. We just walked slowly and I let her process it herself. 

A minute later, just like that, she accumulated some walking speed, picked up her feet, placed them on the pedals, and the look on her face was priceless! She was checking to see if I was watching, how could I miss it?! I immediately remembered when I first learned to ride my bike, I was about 7. Baby E is 5. She beat me. 

I firmly believe that riding the balance bike for three years was what made this transition so easy. She did not need to learn to balance, she just needed to master those pedals and that's much easier to learn than two things at once. 

The next day she learned to turn and now I look at her and it seems like she's been riding that big bike for years! So proud of my not-so-little girl! I'm learning to let go a little, watching her ride the bike reminds me that soon enough a day will come when I'll have to let her go. 

What's your experience with 'big bike' transition for your kids? Did your children ever try a balance bike before switching to one with pedals and no training wheels? 

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How I've Learned to Embrace Technology for My Kids

You've probably read or at least noticed the Huffington Post article "10 Reasons Why Handheld Devices Should be Banned for Children Under the Age of 12". Unless you live under a rock, like me. I only noticed it days later and only because it came up in my Facebook feed. 

As I read it I had to both nod in agreement and cringe in disagreement. I don't want to offer up some one-sided "science" studies here or make lofty arguments. My response comes from a place of personal experience and my favorite - common sense. You often see me referring to common sense here on Eco-Babyz, it's like a lost art, seriously. 

I've had my first computer at age 12 or 13, a monstrosity that took up an entire corner desk. I actually still have my first email address, though I seldom check it anymore. Like many of you I've lived through the technology boom. I was fortunate, however, to have a fairly tech-free childhood for the first 12 years. We had television and I even had a Nintendo back in Russia and played Mario! But I only remember using it during the long Russian winters, my spring, fall, and summer were spent outdoors. 

As I prepared to become a parent and then we welcomed our first child, Baby E, I had a phobia of mixing kids and technology. We also experienced first hand that too much TV time changed our toddler for the worst and our TV free experiment yielded tons of benefits. Yes, I wrote about childhood TV addiction as well. 

It is sad to me that right now, for many children around the country, television replaces interaction with parents, siblings, and the world. They wake up with it, go to bed with it, eat in front of it, watch it while mom makes dinner, takes a shower, cleans the house, it is their babysitter, pacifier, time occupier, and outdoors replacement. Of course no one argues that something like that could be healthy or good for a child's development. You don't need a study to know that, it's common sense.

So here is why we embrace interactive technology offered by handheld devices (not just passive screen time) and use common sense to manage it....

21st Century! Technology skills in the age we live in are an absolute necessity. There is no going back, as much as we would want to dream about carefree, technology free days. The secret is using this technology to our benefit, not detriment. While I don't think toddlers under two benefit from this technology in any way, I also don't think that brief exploration of a handheld device by a three year old with a solid 'real world' learning foundation will fry his brains. Technology is advancing at a pace we can't keep up with, I think it benefits our children to learn to use it wisely, to be flexible and adaptable to change.

Learning and Critical Thinking. While I firmly believe that the foundation of how our children learn should be real-world play, I've witnessed with my first child that after a certain age a handheld device benefits and enhances learning in addition to plenty of unstructured play and outdoor time. Could they do without it? Absolutely, people have for nearly all of time anyway! I've seen very young children daily tethered to handheld devices for their short life, you don't have to look hard to see that they are underdeveloped by the age of 3 than peers who get to play freely in the real world and receive interaction with people that aids in the formation of their brain and language skills. But for older children who have already grasped more of reality vs. make believe, who have a developed vocabulary, brief use of handheld devices actually helps with critical thinking, development, and creativity. It's a great source of inspiration beyond what we are daily surrounded with.

Pursuing Passions. Since we are homeschooling in this technologically advanced age, it allows my children and I to learn so much about subjects we are passionate about. Hey, I wouldn't be where I am today with photography if it wasn't for the learning opportunities through technology! While we don't always use a handheld device for this, sometimes we do. It may mean taking a photo of an insect with the iPod so that we can later look up what it is. It may mean watching a video about volcanoes when my daughter asks what an eruption looks like. It may mean watching a how-to video together when my 5 year old tells me she wants to learn to embroider. Sometimes it may just be my 2.5 year old watching the hayride video we filmed over and over and over again because he is a little obsessed with tractors! As they get older, this technology puts the world at their fingertips, there is no limit to what they can learn and how it can help them discover their passion in this life.

Keeping in Touch. Boy do we know this first hand. Now that daddy is temporarily away for three weeks at a time for work - handheld devices are a lifeline! It is the obvious way to keep hubby and wife, daddy and kids connected. I have no smart phone, but my iPod and regular cell phone are the primary way the kids keep in touch with dad. Not to mention we also have family and friends all over the world, technology enables us to keep connected in between the times we see each other in person. As we homeschool, I still want the kids to send snail mail and write letters for practice, I think that's important, but technology isn't going anywhere!

Unconventional Income Sources. I am a testament to the fact that technology has created ways of earning income in ways that were never possible before. It is a huge resource for entrepreneurs like myself. I run two online-only businesses from home and have never met the hundreds of contacts I've built through the internet. This enables me to stay home with our kids and still contribute to our family's income! You would think, yes, that's great for moms. But I say it's great for everyone. Because we are raising children with family values and together-time really high on the priority list, I know that as they get older and start their own families - like us they will wish they had ways to generate income and spend more time with family. Being technologically savvy will only help them in entrepreneurial endeavors.

Learning moderation. This is how children think. "I want it all and I want it now". At least my kids think this way! Giving them access to handheld devices and teaching them (hopefully by example) that it isn't always the proper time to use them, teaches them moderation. They will eventually learn that just because they can, doesn't mean they should. Just like with candy, banning it will only make it worse, they'll binge at every opportunity. They need to learn to control themselves and as parents we are here to help them do this. Does this mean that after a week of demonstrating moderation and teaching them, they will suddenly know how much is too much? No. It's an ongoing process and it's great for the parent to continue both showing and gently teaching moderation throughout their growing years. For example, it may mean there are no handheld devices allowed at meal time, when spending time together as a family, and when at the store checkout. It may mean they never witness you text or browse while you're driving, they need to know the boundaries.

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Once again, let me reiterate that common sense and leading by example are essential to healthy tech use and freedom from technological addiction! Yes, my kids see that I get a lot of work done sitting at the computer, they know what Facebook is, sort of - but it is balanced by seeing me cooking meals from scratch, taking them outdoors every day when the weather allows, spending time with family and visiting friends, traveling to photo sessions to pursue my passion of photography, and being a part of our community along with them. 

What are your views and experiences on technology and kids?

3 Ways to Prepare Your Child for LIFE

As I watched my five year old daughter sleep this morning, I was overwhelmed with the momentous task of having to prepare her for this world. I know she is sheltered and safe here. I remembered all of my experiences over the thirty years I've lived on this earth, and suddenly I realized she will soon be living a life of her own.

I reflected on what has shaped me and helped me achieve success in life and everything pointed to three basic foundations that guided my choices through my teenage years and as an adult. It can be a scary thought to have to let go of your children, but if you instill these basic principles in their childhood years, they'll be okay! Hey, my mom is not the perfect parent either. The little things won't matter so much, but it's these things that will guide them. 

Give Them a Moral Compass

It may be popular to just let your kids try everything. But you would be doing them a great disservice if you don't teach them right from wrong. Wise from foolish. People without a concrete moral compass end up with drug overdoses, alcohol addiction, teenage pregnancies, and other life-sucking moments. Incidentally, while my parents taught me basic morals, they were not the ones that provided me with a moral compass. It's something that I thankfully acquired when we moved to the U.S. and I started regularly attending a Christian congregation. Was it a group of perfect saints that got together every Sunday? No. They were real people with real struggles. But I thank God that through them and the Bible He has created a solid moral compass in my life. Sorry if I'm getting too religious for you, but this is the number one reason that's kept me from making stupid mistakes in my life. 

As a teenager I wasn't sheltered. My parents let me have my own experiences. I've been in many situations where I was one step away from making great mistakes that would have prevented me from being where I am today. If it wasn't for that moral compass - I would likely not be here today, or I'd be enduring a pretty dismal existence. 

Invest in THEM, Not Their College Fund

College tuition is a joke. Paying for an education so that you can spend the rest of your life paying off your loans makes little sense. Hey, I'm still paying mine. My education did not make me a happier or a more successful person. I'm not even using my degree at the moment. But I am really thankful my parents invested in my passions and my childhood. I now realize those piano lessons, art lessons, camps, and mentorships were really priceless. They could not afford paying for my college tuition, I've had to rely on financial aid, scholarships, and loans. Only now I realize college wasn't a necessity as everyone made it seem.

Yes, college can be necessary depending on your chosen profession. For some people it may be a worthwhile investment. In this day and age however, with ever changing technology and world circumstances, there is more wisdom in investing in your child now - not when they are 18. It's too late then. Look carefully at what they are passionate about, what do they love to do? Invest in developing their talents and giving them an opportunity to explore new ones. I was inspired by these parents. 

Invest in music and art, things that may be less tangible but have a profound impact on the creativity and resilience of your growing child. Invest in relationships that will last beyond their schooling years. It's not a secret that positive relationships enhance our lives in many ways. 

It's also so important to let your children see the world! Yes, travel is expensive, but it will be a far better investment than college. They need to see how other people live. They need to be aware of the history of countries, empires, and fallen civilizations. History and culture teaches us so many intangible things. I would definitely not be the person I am today if I didn't have the travel experiences of my teenage years. So thankful my parents spent money on that and thankful to the people that sponsored me on missionary trips, they were truly life changing. 

Love Unconditionally

Last but not least, love them no matter what. It's easier to do now. They spill milk, you love them anyway. They draw with permanent marker on the wall, you love them anyway. It will get a little harder when they are older. They crash your car, you love them anyway. They come home smelling of cigarettes, you love them anyway. Your love will make them feel guiltier than any punishment. It's much harder for your kids to upset someone who loves them than someone who constantly nags, yells, or generally annoys them. 

I didn't give my parents much trouble. Yes there were some instances. I truly believe one of the reasons I was an 'easy child' is because I always felt their unconditional love for me. However I know people, friends, family, that did not have that type of relationship with their parents and thus it caused much heartache for everyone involved. Even now as adults it haunts them that they aren't loved for one reason or another. 

Love does not equal always giving them what they want. It's showing them that our relationship is more important than having things we may desire. 

Fill your children's lives with unconditional love and they'll turn out alright. 

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What tips do you have for preparing your child for life?

#SliceofPerfect in My #MessyReality {Photo Challenge}

Today Jill Krause from Baby Rabies inspired me with her photo challenge. I read her post and nodded, I often post very nice photos of my kids but people don't get to see the 'big picture'. This above is my Slice of Perfect, I chose to crop out our messy kids/homeschooling/guest room after I've pretty much let them make a mess and move things around. 

This morning they woke up and Baby E shouted she wants to 'do school'. Our normal educational activities are nothing like school, but this time she wanted me to use the whiteboard and wanted to have 'school desks'. You can see that below. As we were doing math, we heard the beeping sound outside and my 2 year old exclaims, "Excavator!" It actually was one, and they were both so excited! They've been watching the excavator dig a whole for the past half hour. 

Less obvious in the photo is our ceiling that has leaked almost every winter. It's been fixed, painted over, and leaked on again because of ice build up on the roof. Boxes of legos, rocking hourse, exercise ball, dollhouse, just a typical play room. Notice the Christmas lights hanging. It's mid-April. They don't want to take them down!

So there you have it! My Slice of Perfect. It reminds me of having to choose daily to enjoy the 'perfect' moments among the really messy daily reality of motherhood. Otherwise we would all go crazy. 

You can tweet and Instagram your #SliceOfPerfect and #MessyReality photos to join in on the Baby Rabies photo challenge!

Spring Officially Here! {photo session}

Yesterday was GORGEOUS. I can hardly believe we're out of our winter slump and can finally take photos outdoors! We had fun at this park and opened the season to a lot more outdoor time that we desperately crave. 

Pollinating Bee

New England winters make me wish we moved to a slightly warmer climate. Which may actually happen in the distant future, for many reasons. I'm so over spending the winter home with sick kids. Over. It's a fact of life and you can't always avoid it, but surely there are places where we could live to get sunshine not just 5-6 months out of the year. No vitamin D, guaranteed sickness. Supplements help, but just aren't the real thing. 

When we got to the garden, I remembered I completely forgot to actually dress them nice for photos, just got out the door in whatever they had on. 

That smirk!

My princess!

Baby E and Baby T were so happy for the warm the weather that they almost liked the presence of the bees on nearly every flower. Plus it was a good deterrent for my toddler, who wanted to pick all the flowers where he isn't supposed to. 

We'll be enjoying this spring, summer, and early fall, but honestly, I'm not looking forward to next winter. 

These photos were taken at the Stevens Coolidge Place (that I didn't even take a picture of!), just a ten minute drive from our house. 

Can't wait to see it in all it's early summer glory!  

What climate do you live in? Love or dislike winter?

Photos: Copyrighted to V & A Photography, specializing in Boston wedding photography, Boston family photography, and Boston newborn photography

Life

Fevers.

Tough for baby, tough for mom to deal with. My five year old had a fever for two days last week, while I was still parenting alone as hubby was away for work (for 3 weeks! Yikes!). This week hubby is back (yay!) but our two year old is down with a high fever right now. 

You have no idea how much I just want to blog and write! I've got so many great articles in draft! So many photos to share! I even want to set aside my "paying work" just to blog. 

But you know what, none of that I want as much as for my babies to be well and to spend time with them and my hubby. I know that the blog isn't going anywhere. It will be here tomorrow. It will be here next week. I love you all and would love to share more with you. But my time with my family each day is gone, never to come back. I want to have as much of that time with them as possible while we can. Next week hubby is leaving again, so we are enjoying his 'vacation' with us.  

So excuse me as I go check the on the baby's fever again, snuggle up to nurse him, treat with much love and the best natural remedies I can find. 

Tomorrow is a new day and this mama needs her sleep. :)

The Reality of Fancy Recipes

I subscribe to many food blogs that post yummy, amazing recipes several times a week. Sometimes I even bookmark (Pin) one. I think to myself "my kids would love this one, oh and this one, and this". With such an onslaught of perfect recipes it's easy to fall into the trap of feeling guilty because let's face it - when it comes to reality, you're not going to make a new recipe every day, or every week even. 

Hey, I have times where all month long I make nothing new and it's pure survival mode in the kitchen. You know those times when you just don't feel the inspiration to make something new? When you simply have no time to invest in trying a new recipe? When it's pasta and hot dogs, with side of ketchup for dinner. 

We are so spoiled. Food network. Gourmet restaurants. Organic this, organic that. Right now as you're reading this, there are children searching for food at the dump somewhere. That really puts it in perspective, doesn't it?

I have to remind my own kids of this, because sometimes I am the one spoiling them by making something they request to eat. Overall, I make and share easy recipes. I try to keep it basic. Even then, most of the recipes you'll see on that page I've made less than a handful of times because as a work-at-home mom I just don't have the time for many of them. Lazy chicken is a favorite - and not because I'm lazy, but because it's quick for when time is of the essence. I've stopped making homemade bread a while ago. We do still make birds-in-a-nest, fried plantains, and sprouted crust mushroom pizza. That's as special as it will get, usually once a week. The rest is just large batches of soup for lunch, chicken with alternating sides, and yes, even some things from the freezer aisle at Trader Joe's. But hey, at least the bulk of our diet is healthy stuff from scratch, even if it isn't fancy. Even if it's [gasp!] boring. 

I make cookies often, and secretly envy those that just buy them. I make pancakes from scratch because I can't justify buying a mix for some odd reason. But I make them when our breakfast routine of omelette, oatmeal, or bread/butter/cheese, just gets too repetitive. 

Yesterday I made cake on a whim. From scratch everything cake. For no reason, no occasion, other than having a pack of Stonyfield organic heavy whipping cream in my fridge that I wanted to use while it's still fresh. I made it just because I know how much my kids LOVE freshly whipped cream, and what better way to eat it than on cake. For the record, when there is a special occasion I make this cake without much desire, I almost force myself. I'm not good at it. Yesterday I did not want to make it, but I enjoyed seeing my children's faces light up as I made it and as they ate it. 

But that's so rare! Most days I just need to feed them without spending all day in the kitchen. Even when that's how I do it, I still feel like I'm in the kitchen too long making breakfast, lunch, and dinner. 

It's surreal right now how I took it for granted as a teenager. Knowing I can come into the kitchen and my mom always had something ready for us to eat. Wow, that was such a luxury. 

Now I'm providing that luxury to my children, my husband. I feel blessed to be the one providing it for them, but sometimes it just gets so repetitive. I need a reminder that it's just food and doesn't need to be fancy all the time. 

So, sorry food bloggers, but I just may unsubscribe from a few of your lists because the recipes you post are just too time consuming and make me feel unnecessarily guilty. Don't worry, I'll probably still find you on Pinterest if I need to when culinary inspiration strikes!

Do you ever feel stuck in a rut in the kitchen? Do you feel the pressure to make fancy recipes for your family?

Our Valentine's Breakfast

Just for fun I wanted to make a 'heart' themed breakfast for the kids - this isn't a recipe, just a way for me to document how fun this is to make with them so that when they are all grown up I can reminisce of these fabulous days when they were so little! 

Kids and cutting things out. I don't know, they just love anything to do with cutting shapes! We used a heart cookie cutter to cut out hearts in the sprouted bread (store bought!). Then just put it on the skillet, egg in the middle, sprinkled with cheese. Cover for 5 minutes, then flip and toast another 3 minutes. They love this for breakfast!

Someday soon I will teach Baby E to make this herself. She's five, but it's time to teach her some easy meals and maybe have her make breakfast once a week, lunch once a week, and dinner once a week!?

Those smiles, I'm going to miss them so much. They say "The days are long but the years are short" - but to me right now everything seems short, days, years, weeks, just flying and flying and I can't stop it. Please stay little, as long as possible! Don't grow up so fast!

Photos: V & A Photography

How I Became Am a Photographer

I've hit a bit of a creative block this week and it's not because I don't want to write. It's because there is only one thing I want to write about and it isn't directly related to Eco-Babyz. It's directly related to my life right now though, to my babies. Since I've discovered I don't particularly enjoy writing about things that do not pertain to my life - I've decided to do less of that this year, more of writing about things that are truly my passion. After all, it's my blog, my little writing corner, and I can take it in any direction I want. 

I firmly believe people need to take risks to pursue their passions. Without fear of failure. 

I wanted to write about how I became a photographer. As I thought about the title I realized it's not something you become, it's someone you are. You are either born a photographer (or rather a person that thinks in images) or you are born with different strengths. Yes, anyone can pick up a camera and learn about photography. But does capturing images consume them? Have they always thought of life in images and memories captured? Does composition come naturally to them? 

I was about eight years old when point-and-shoot cameras became available in the country where I was born, Russia. My mother is also a very visual person. She was so excited when she got that first camera. I think it was a Pentax, 35mm film of course. Film and developing was pretty expensive, so every image she took was thoughtful. For the most part, I was her subject. 

Fast forward to immigrating to the United States, we went through many cheap cameras. I would borrow it and take pictures of my cat, my friends, and nature. Then we upgraded to an SLR. I still remember the dozens of images I took with that camera as a teenager, they are flashing through my head. That one of the goose at Lake Tahoe stands out in my mind - but it was film! I have no idea where to find those photos now.

Then came high school and my first experience with the technical aspects of photography. I had a photography elective, we were provided with old 35mm cameras and had to learn all the manual settings. I had a wonderful, talented teacher. I loved learning to develop the film and make prints in the dark room. In my junior year of high school I had to decide between a photography degree at NESOP or Bachelor of Science in Interior Design at Endicott College. Interior architecture was something else I've always enjoyed. It was decided when the president of Endicott stopped by my dad's shoe repair shop to fix his shoes! My dad told him all about his wonderful daughter and Dr. Wylie was sold. I really enjoyed my four years there, made some great friends, and had the luxury of still living home with my parents just a short drive away and having home cooked meals - something I wasn't ready to give up! Moreover, the photography courses I took at Endicott plunged me further into exploring this medium and being an aspiring amateur.

I was where I needed to be at that time, I have no regrets. After college I spent several years working at an architectural firm north of Boston, which was a great experience. It fulfilled my craving for constant visual work, a balance of creative and technical. But I never particularly enjoyed being an employee (despite having a great boss!), I just always dreamed of being out on my own.

Then I became a mom in January of 2009. The same year the financial crisis happened. My small firm no longer had work for me, everyone was downsizing. It was a little sad, but nothing for me to get depressed about since my husband still had a job and I was home taking care of our newborn. I started Eco-Babyz to let out some creative steam. I found some paying online gigs for small start ups to help make ends meet.

Becoming a mom changed me. It brought me back to that passion of capturing images. Suddenly time started flying so fast after becoming a parent, those images became so much more important. I took many photos with my cheap point and shoot to preserve the memories, but at that point the equipment definitely was not on par with my passion for photography.

As Eco-Babyz grew and I connected with many brands, I launched AnaB Social when Baby T was just 6 months old. I enjoy managing the social media accounts for brands. I didn't know if it's something that would last, but here I am, still at it. It pays bills and I'm my own boss, it's perfectly flexible for the unpredictability of motherhood. But I never gave up on my dream of pursuing photography. 

We thought of getting a DSLR for a few years. It just never quite fit in the budget until we paid off our car and my social media business picked up by a hair. We took the plunge and invested in a Nikon D7000. I loved it. I finally had a camera that could actually capture what I envisioned, unlike a point and shoot. My husband and I both jumped right on top of learning the ins and outs of a DSLR, watching countless videos, attending webinars, tons of reading, and just learning all we could get our hands on online. 

Then I dropped the camera. Thankfully we had insurance and we were totally reimbursed. It was a blessing in disguise because now we thought "why buy the same camera that will be outdated soon, if we can upgrade to a full frame professional camera and really take the plunge". So we invested in the Nikon D800. After swallowing that lump in the throat looking at the price. Paired it with a 50mm f1.8 Nikkor lens until we could afford a zoom lens. Then tightening our belts a little more to get the 24-70mm f2.8 Nikkor lens. Gulp. Certainly we didn't buy these as toys, we considered it a small business investment. Photography is certainly a very expensive business to start. 

(Now don't ask why I prefer Nikon over Canon, I've never tried Canon, my first 35mm SLR was Nikon, I don't really have a preference at this point and think both are great. For now I'm sticking with what I know I like.)

I'm always learning more about photography, it's not something any photographer ever stops doing. But there was a point where I was finally so comfortable shooting in manual mode that I no longer had to constantly think about it. Aperture, shutter speed, ISO, and other settings blending seamlessly. Practice makes perfect. I have a long way to go, but the best thing is I truly enjoy it. There is nothing I would rather do more. 

Everything around me is an inspiration. My children. Other people's children. Love. Nature and the outdoors. Other incredible, much more talented photographers. Many that once were where I am today, at the beginning of a road. 

I love the creative aspects of being a photographer, it's just a part of me. But I'm still learning the business side. I'm learning that in order to make any profit after we pay taxes, insurance, photo hosting, website hosting, advertising, editing software, and crazy equipment expenses, we have to price our work accordingly. Not easy to do when you live in a place swarmed by photographers, real ones and 'pretend' ones. Those that truly have talent, or just those that want to make some cash on the side. Okay, I won't go further down this road even though I have a lot more to say. 

Two of my passions in this field are wedding photography and newborn photography. I know why. I just love capturing events that are life changing. I love people and their emotions, how people express love for those close to them. I find weddings the most challenging because you have to be good at everything - not just portraits, just macro, or just landscapes. You have to be able to work with a variety of lighting all on the same day. You have to be good with people. You have to deal well with stress and adapt easily. You need to be physically fit. You have to be very quick and capture everything the clients expect and be creative while you're at it. I have a lot of respect for professional wedding photographers because now I know what goes into shooting a wedding. It's very, very hard work, we just make it look easy.

Newborns. Is there anything more precious that those first days of a new human being on earth? The way the new (or seasoned) parents look at their bundle of joy. I just love seeing those moments and preserving them for the family to remember in the years to come.

So for all of you that asked, this this the story of how I became am a photographer. 

I don't think any of this would have been possible without the support of my husband. He has encouraged me, tested my patience, and supported me in all aspects. As a result he has grown fond of photography as well and he really enjoys shooting too. 

I would love to hear your photography stories, whether you just love looking at other people's photographs, you're an aspiring amateur, or a professional. Share stories and ask me anything! 

The photos are all ones I took in 2013 and 2014 for V & A Photography at various photo sessions. Those babies aren't mine! Unfortunately I had a low quality camera when both my babies were born.

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Baby E's Birthday Party at Imajine That {PHOTOS!}

As you know, Baby E turned 5 in January and we were so excited that Imajine That hosted her birthday party! It was everything we needed and more. As I've mentioned we never really make a big deal out of birthdays and just celebrate at home, this was her first 'real' birthday party! Our home is too small to host more than eight people or so, so this was the perfect solution. What I really loved is that there was very little planning for me to do! I just had to invite people, arrange who will make the cake, decide what we'll wear, and grab the camera. 

Easy, no hassle kids birthday party. Exactly what I needed.     

Location: Imajine That is a 5 minute drive from our house - I know, we're fortunate! It is located in Lawrence, north of Boston. It's just a half hour drive from Boston and the North Shore, and just ten minutes from the New Hampshire border. It a great location for kids birthday parties in Massachusetts! It's inside a huge converted mill building. 

Some of our guests

The Play Space: If you've never been to Imajine That, I have to tell you the play space is pretty amazing. The sheer amount of space is awesome! It's 15,000 square feet, tall ceilings, huge windows, lots of breathing room. 

My favorite thing about this facility is the encouragement of creative play by how it is designed. Nothing electronic here, no kids 'slot machines', just many areas where kids can use their imagination and do some grocery shopping, acting/theater, climbing, bouncing, caring for one another at the clinic, building, reading, drawing, painting, sailing, and burning off their energy on the large climbing structure. The perfect place to unplug with kids, especially during the seemingly endless winter months or on rainy days throughout the year. 

Huge Facility

There is great separation of space and little areas throughout where you can watch your little one play or play with them. All the kids at the birthday party had a blast and they ranged in age from 18 months to 9 years old. I really loved that the space naturally encourages kids of all ages to play together, it was wonderful to see!

3 race slides

Mini Whole Foods Supermarket

Train Table

The Party Space: We loved our party room, it was nice and spacious for 15 kids and 16 adults! No matter what the size of your party is, they have a room for you - there are several available. There was enough seating for everyone and table for the kids and food, it was all decorated - I didn't even have to think about it. You could bring some extra decorations of your own if you wanted to though. We picked Baby E's two favorite colors - pink and blue, she loved how it looked! 

Since we knew we would be eating delicious (but not very nutritious) pizza for the party, we really wanted a homemade and healthy-ish dessert. So I asked my talented sister-in-law to make the cake and it was perfect! Best of all, it was yummy and had all 'real food', pronounceable ingredients, nothing artificial. The decorations are very much representative of Baby E, she LOVES berries and flowers, two of her obsessions!

Birthday cake by my sister-in-law!

Baby T with his cousin

Inside the private party room

Baby E and her cake

Birthday Party Experience: Most kids birthday party places give you two hours beginning to end. You know that's not nearly enough time. At Imajine That you get an hour of play time, an hour in your party room, and another hour of play time. That's 3 hours! You definitely don't feel as rushed and kids get plenty of time to just play. It's also excellent for guests who arrive late, that way they aren't actually late to the party. We had a family that could only make it at 6, not 5 pm, they missed that hour of play time - but still made it to the party and the hour of play time after!

We loved having a party assistant take care of all the details from making sure we have everything we need, to cutting the cake for us. It really made for an enjoyable experience and I could focus more on enjoying the party and taking photos to preserve the memories. Our pizza arrived just a little late (there were 10 after all!), but it was nice that at the end since we were the last party of the day we were not rushed out of our party room and could finish our desserts.

About to blow out the candle

Our little family

The Value: Think about how much you spend on your kids birthday party. The food, decorations, the sheer amount of time coordinating everything. How much do you spend? $200? $300? Maybe even more? Imagine if someone would do it all for you and just let you take care of the cake and enjoying the party! At first I was looking at the packages and thinking "Man, that's expensive!" But when you do the math it's actually the same, if not cheaper, than doing it yourself. Not to mention that your guests get passes to Imajine That in their favors that are valued at half the prize of your party package. They do give you a lot of bang for your buck. 

A guest with his dad in the bouncy house

Baby T all tired out

There are 3 party packages available to fit your needs, at $199 (7 guests), $299 (15 guests), and $399 (23 guests). The guest count does not include babies under 1 and adults! So it gives you plenty of wiggle room to either invite a few close friends or everyone your kid knows. Packages include pizza and drinks, ice cream for each child, balloon and favor for each child (admission pass with each favor valued at $10 each for your guests to come back and play!), solid color paper products, party assistant, 2 hours of play time and 1 hour in party room, and free printable invitations. 

There are also many add-ons available such as an edible sand art craft, cupcake decorating, or face painting. You can also add on more food from Sal's Restaurant, they have an excellent catering menu. We ordered an extra 6 pizzas on top of the 4 cheese that we had for kids, they were all absolutely delicious. There are also six theme options for parties for an additional fee: I'm With the Band Rock Star, How Old ART You Now, Pixie Dust Fairy, Walk the Plank Pirate, Karate Kid, and Once Upon a Time Princess. 

But of course Imajine That isn't just a party place, first and foremost it's a place for play where you can come any day and enjoy watching your children play with tons of room to run around, grab a snack at the cafe, chat with other moms. Admission for children is $10 each and $1 for adults, so it's definitely a better deal to get a monthly pass or a membership for the whole family so you can come as much as you like. They also have many educational events for kids through the year that are pretty awesome.

Don't forget to take advantage of the fast it is located right above an excellent, romantic restaurant with river views. Book a Parents Night Out on Friday or Saturday night and leave your kids at Imajine That for pizza with other kids while you dine with your significant other at Sal's Restaurant!

Overall Experience: What can I say? Imajine That is everything you would want in a kids birthday party place and so much more! I think the photos speak for themselves (you can see even more on our photography blog). It's a place that will take a while for kids to outgrow, hey, even I find it fun and want to play there with my kids, not just watch! The staff there was very helpful and accommodating, the whole experience was top notch. I highly recommend this place for your children's next birthday party! Even if you don't live very close, it's worth the drive. It's a unique experience you can't get at a chain party place. 

Baby T at the end of the party using up last reserves of energy

Connect with Imajine That on Facebook and Twitter

Imajine That Website

Imajine That Birthday Parties

Disclaimer: Baby E received a birthday party package for her celebration to be hosted at Imajine That in order to be featured and reviewed on Eco-Babyz.